Harold&#x27;s Chicken Shack West Loop

Nice sports bar in an iconic area.the wings are very very good. Not the small new age wings but…read morethe traditional wings bone in... .excellent. the show stopper was the smoked sweet potato glazed wedges.......wow! Bar was large and the servers were ON IT! Totally enjoyed it. Will be back

Picture this; we travel downtown to do a little Christmas shopping. Being the planners we are, we…read moreendlessly scrolled through Yelp looking for the perfect post-Christmas shopping meal for our group of five adults. We are starving, hangry actually. We saunter up to our chosen restaurant only to find a sign on the door that says, "closed for private event." Did I mention I was hangry? My husband suggests Jake Melnick's. It was within walking distance ... did I mention it was raining that night? And I was hangry? I was game for anything at that point. We arrived and waited probably four minutes for a table. A couple of the adults ordered a beer, the others ordered a Coke. We ordered a large pretzel and our mains. The pretzel was so good. All the meals were outstanding (a sliced brisket sandwich, some wings, chicken tenders, onion rings and a burger). Service was great. It was a little loud when we first arrived as there was an intense Illinois State basketball game on but as soon as the game ended, it was much quieter. We really enjoyed our meal at Jake's!

Mac Daddy Mac 'n Cheese

Poncho Wings

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Classic Cheeseburger

Crisp

4.3(3.7k reviews)

3.9 mi•Lakeview

Awesome wings with amazing sauce. Great customer service…read more I definitely will be back again.

*Delivery* Order delivery close to closing time and the Food…read morewas delivered on time, fresh, and hot! - The fries stayed really crispy and not greasy at all. They kind of reminded me of McDonald's fries - Bulgogi was a large portion over rice - the half chicken was crispy and tons of sauce and the Buffalo spicy was SPICY! - the extra drumsticks were huge!

0.8 mi•Ukrainian Village, West Town

Seating

Marty's Magic Mushrooms

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Jumbo Drumsticks

Output Lounge & Sports Bar

3.4(531 reviews)

Great wings!!! If you're looking for a no- frills sports bar with good wings - this spot is it!…read moreSuper casual inside with lots of TVs. For my group of 4, we shared the Crow Platter which includes 50 wings with 5 sauces and 1/2 garlic parm wedges and 1/2 output onion rings. This was plenty of food and we left with lots of leftovers. The sauces we got were the Jim bean bbq, lemon pepper, garlic parm, sweet n spicy, and hot chipotle ranch. All the sauces were soo good! Definitely very sauuucyyy. Bone-in is def the way to go here. The wings are a decent size too! The wedges and onion rings were pretty average. Kinda wish the platter automatically came with ranch/bleu cheese (its extra cost).

I'm almost embarrassed to admit how long it took me to finally make it to Output Lounge & Sports…read moreBar--especially since it's basically a Chicago staple to wing lovers. I skipped the wings this time and went with a grilled chicken wrap to keep things on the lighter side. It was a solid choice. But the real standout for me was the breaded shrimp tossed in their chipotle buffalo sauce. Crispy, saucy, and the kind of appetizer you keep reaching for even when you say you're full. Also worth noting at Output.... the drink menu is extensive, so there's no shortage of options to pair with whatever you order. Overall, great first visit. Next time, I'll do the responsible thing and actually order the wings like everyone else does.

2.5 mi•Old Town, Near North Side

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Woodie's Flat

4.0(430 reviews)

I've been walking past this place for like 10 years and finally went in, and honestly... I feel…read morelike I got mugged by a sticky-floor college bar. $18 mixed drinks, plus a 4% credit card fee, is wild for a place that feels like it survives on spilled beer, bad decisions, and trust funds. The happy hour is the best ticket. The beer was good tall frosty mug, I'll give them that. But anything beyond beer felt offensively overpriced. The food was good $19 for 9-10 wings were actually the best I have had in a while, smoked then fried tasty and the pork fries seemed good. The crowd was very North Shore college kid energy, like Dad's AmEx is somewhere in the room picking up the tab. Would I come back? Yes and because staff was way cool down to earth and that and wings sold me. Might make Big Daddy's occasional stop but not an everyday watering hole.

Used to be my favorite spot for wings in the city. Past 3 times I have ordered delivery they forget…read morethe wing sauce and the ranch! And this has happened multiple times. Such a bummer! ** the sauce in the picture is sour cream and salsa- we ordered nachos, they did get everything right for the nachos.

Interior upstairs

Smoked then grilled sweet bourbon wings

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Jalapeño margarita

House of Wings

3.6(189 reviews)

3.4 mi•Lincoln Park

Boss man knows what he's doing. Just ordered a jumbo teriyaki and it was pretty good, and he hit me…read morewith a free drink that I never asked for. Small little area to eat and I feel very comfortable in there. I didn't order fries but they looked amazing.

Delicious wings! Been going here since I was in middle school and currently 30 years old! My go to…read morespot for wings of any occasion. House made buffalo sauce, may not be the traditional style most are used to but amazing sauce nonetheless. All the sauces are good but buffalo is my favorite. Made fresh to order and you can watch them make it all right in front of you so enjoy the show. Once you eat one wing, you'll be on the last one before you know it, you won't be able to put them down!

Small Single Order Buffalo Chicken Wings

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Menu from 6-1-25

Wilma's Famous BBQ & Tavern

3.3(270 reviews)

2.0 mi•The Loop

We had been craving some seriously good BBQ and kept hearing the same thing: You have to try…read moreWilma's. I'm glad we listened! First off, this place is enormous. It's the perfect spot for a large group, a fantasy football draft, game day, or any sports-watching event. The television screens are massive--there's virtually no chance of missing a play. Our server was fantastic. Friendly, relaxed, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. I also loved that she had a little robot assistant helping deliver food. It struck the perfect balance between technology and hospitality without losing the human touch. She guided us through both the menu and bar selections, and from there everything just kept getting better. The first thing we tried was the Soul Roll, and wow. Imagine all your favorite comfort foods wrapped inside an egg roll and fried to perfection. Brisket, mac and cheese, greens, and yams--all bundled together and served with a sweet yam syrup dipping sauce. It sounds outrageous because it is... in the best possible way. The ribs were tender and practically fell off the bone. The links brought just the right amount of spice. The fried chicken was crispy, juicy, and delicious. The greens and yams were flavorful, and the baked beans? Absolutely magical. As for the bar, it was a mixed experience. I ordered a lemon drop and was told they don't sugar the rim because it creates a mess on the floor. Personally, a lemon drop without a sugar rim feels a little incomplete. However, the bartender did earn some points back by serving it in a highball glass instead of one of their smaller martini glasses, explaining that we'd actually get more of the cocktail that way. Fair enough--I can appreciate that kind of honesty. If you're visiting Chicago and looking for great BBQ, put Wilma's on your list. Come hungry.

I really wanted to enjoy my visit to Wilma's BBQ in downtown Chicago, but unfortunately, it fell…read morewell short of my expectations. My party of four visited for Sunday brunch, and the restaurant was basically empty when we arrived. The escalator also wasn't working, which wasn't the best first impression. We ordered fried wings, rib tips, and drinks, but our food didn't come out together. For a table of four, it's disappointing when everyone isn't served at the same time. The biggest disappointment was the lemon drop martinis. After one sip, they were far too tart and overly citrusy for our taste. The glasses were still nearly full, so we politely asked if they could be remade or exchanged for a different cocktail. We were told that all alcohol sales are final. While I understand restaurants have policies, I was surprised there wasn't any willingness to accommodate us, especially since we had barely touched the drinks and simply wanted a different cocktail. As for the food, the fried wings lacked seasoning, and the rib tips were rubbery and didn't have much flavor. Being from Texas, I enjoy BBQ where the meat stands on its own, so I asked for the BBQ sauce on the side. Unfortunately, even with the sauce, the rib tips didn't have the quality or flavor I was expecting. The staff was polite, but the food quality, drink experience, and overall execution didn't live up to the reputation I was hoping for. I hope management takes this feedback as an opportunity to improve because the restaurant has potential.

3.2 mi•DePaul, Lincoln Park

Wilma's Famous BBQ Tavern.(keepsmilingphoto.com)

Sweet Potatoes! (keepsmilingphoto.com)

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Wilma's Turkey Tips

Bird's Nest

3.7(552 reviews)

(Kari's Rating 8/10)…read more Came in on a Friday night about 8 o'clock, and I didn't realize there was a basketball game tonight, so the bar was really packed with IU fans. I heard off this place from an Instagram video from a food blogger. There wasn't initially seating when we first got in, but the bartender/hostess helped us make a makeshift table. We also didn't have a chair so she had to go find a chair and she found one so really appreciate her hustle. The wings came out pretty quickly, the honey barbecue wings were really sweet, and came with a substantial amount of sauce. The ranch was impeccable. It was not too thin and came with celery. The birds nest hot sauce was relatively hot for a medium. I was definitely feeling the spice after two or three. I think there was a little too much sauce on the wings for me, personally, but overall very good. The volume is really loud because everyone was there for the game, so we kinda had to yell over each other to have a conversation. We got our check pretty quickly and the servers were really attentive. I would definitely come back if I was in the area, but I probably wouldn't come all the way from River North for this again.

Our waitress was... sufficient. The food (I personally had…read morechicken wings) was phenomenal. I suggest going with the Bird's Nest hot sauce for the wings. I'd definitely go back for the wings.

Bird 's Nest . 2500 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL Pub Sport Bar Wings Burgers Pizza Salads Chili etc. Pool Darts JukeBox . Cool!

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Bloody Mary

Harold's Chicken Shack

3.4(591 reviews)

2.0 mi•South Loop

I don't know if i went to the right location or if i even ordered it the right way, but what i will…read moresay is... the chicken is good! I definitely should've asked for them to fry it a bit harder than that cuz i like mine a lot crisper, but that was my fault. The wings themselves were seasoned well, juicy and hot. The fries were okay too. The lemonade was too damn sweet lol. But that's to be expected really lol. I wanted something sweet to end the meal so i got a lemon cake. It wasn't the best cake but it wasn't bad. I'd skip that to be honest. I also didn't need the 5 wings combo cuz that's a lot of wings lol. You can do the 3 wing combo and still be okay. The staff here were nice. They didn't rush you and were helpful when asked. The ambiance was cool. In the downtown neighborhood so it wasn't bad. All in all I'd want to try it again. They had other sides as well and chicken tenders. They also had sandwiches and other juices. Check them out if you're there. Pics below

Kari's Rating 7.75/10…read more TLDR: -Chicken batter is not seasoned -Super fresh and Crispy breading -No air conditioning inside Came after Taste of Chicago around 8:40pm and it was definitely busy but it got crowded once the event ended at 9. Place is relatively small but we got a booth and ordered a 1/4 dark which included a thigh and a drumstick, 1/4 white which included a breast and a wing.

2.8 mi•DePaul, Lincoln Park

Seating area

3 Piece Wings

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Inside

Red Light Chicken

4.8(234 reviews)

The chicken was the best!!! One problem was that the bag ripped when we were walking to the car.read more

I had a full morning of walking and visiting the zoo with my daughter, so we were exhausted and…read morehungry. We visited in the afternoon so we had zero wait. The staff and service were very quick and friendly. Our food also came out super quick. The chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets, and fries were tremendous. My daughter and I ate a very happy meal on the sidewalk. I do wish they had some seats, but sitting next to the feral cat next door wasn't too bad. Guard your food and watch out for birds.

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French Fries!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

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Outside

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Mario B.

8 years ago

Chicken was great!!!!!!!! fried hard like i like it. for those who don't know how to order fried Chicken from Harold's try it with hot & mild sauce salt & pepper in a couple of jalapeno peppers lol!! if you don't like the wait you should call your order 10 or 15 mins ahead in trust me its worth the wait if you want your chicken & fries fresh hot in crispy i been to a lot of Harold's Chicken Shacks threw out Chicago in the suburbs in some locations be a hit or miss with old chicken or old cooking oil!! but not this location i never had a bad experience at this West loop location!!! its one of my favorite location don't forget to try their catfish fillet fried hard but not burnt with just a little hot sauce & salt & pepper trust me it's the bomb!!!!!! read more

Nailah L.

7 years ago

ordered from here today and this was the worst customer service i've ever experienced. when i called to speak with a manager the rude ass broad at the register stated she was the manager and the way she spoke (unprofessionally) whoever promoted her needs to seriously rethink that...when my order had to be fixed she had an attitude she spent the time at the counter being annoyed by whatever...i will never spend money at this establishment again unless she is not there she is very argumentative and does not listen to customers at all bad business ethics...i do not want to rate because this is not even worth stars so since i have to i'll give it a half star read more

Cathedral S.

9 years ago

This is a great establishment. There is great hospitality. The workers are nice. The food is great. There isn't really anything bad to say about the establishment. The location is conveniently place close to my school so I eat there almost everyday. There is a sense of joy that I get every time I walk through the front door. I just love it. read more

Nycol C.

8 years ago

This Harold's location has been by far my most favorite! It took little to no time for my order to be ready, the food was hot and fresh, and it was very clean inside. I brought my friend from out of town to this location and she wants to come back whenever she is in town! I would recommend this location to anyone looking for a good meal! read more

Jade D.

9 years ago

Every time I come to this Harold's they have really good customer service, the food is always fresh and the wait is never too long. When you go into a business and spend your money you expect to get what you pay for and the always deliver. That's love. I definitely recommend them for your on the way, on your lunch break food spot. read more

Shardae P.

9 years ago

From the time you walked in, this place is so clean. You can't find too many Harold's in the city that are clean. The atmosphere and the design was very cool. Their chicken was amazing, freshly cooked, it was seasoned so perfectly and was incredibly juicy, the best chicken I have ever had. Hands down, THE BEST!! read more

DaKari T.

9 years ago

This is my favorite place to go when hungry. The food is fresh and my order is never messed up. I suggest coming here when in the area and getting mild sauce. The customer service is exceptional and they make you feel good. The workers are nice and they are one of the best places in the area, highly suggest. read more

Jazmyne J.

206

9 years ago

I come here all the time for lunch. The good is fresh and delicious. I really like that I don't have to wait all day for my food seeing as its lunch time. Most Harold's move slow but not this one. I would recommend this place to anyone passing through the west loop. It has become one of my favorite places! read more

Chris H.

270

7 years ago

The chicken is amazing but the SERVICE is cheeks! Bad attitudes for what??? You can call your order in and STILL have to wait 15-30min after you arrived to get your food. I just don't understand why the nastier the customer service, the better the food. Harold's is always like this smh. read more

Chris B.

8 years ago

Harolds Chicken West loop is one of my favorite eateries in the area. There is great food. The employees are very hospitable and nice. I come here almost everyday because I love the environment. It's so nice and peaceful. I would totally recommend coming here if you are in the area read more

Aeriel W.

8 years ago

I've been coming here for 6 years and it's always a great experience. West loop Harolds knows their by name and they always make me feel welcome. They always have good specials and stay open late! Great customer service and overall great experience with family vibes. read more

Heyward T.

Elite 23

195

203

5 years ago

4-stars for the food The wings are magnificent. It was perfectly cooked and tender. 4-star for the ambiance The setting for a simple and clean meal 4.5-star rating for its price Affordably priced. The portions were adequate for the price, so it was well worth it. read more

Destend L.

1 year ago

if youre you dont want to go here i stood there for five minutes before someone came up to the counter and then served the people behind me because they happened to be the same skin color as the woman working. racist against white people!!!! Didnt even look my way. read more

Z C.

9 years ago

Hands down this is the best harolds chicken in the city. They have great customer service. This harolds is the best looking harolds I've ever seen. It's very nice and clean. It's a little bit of a wait but it's definitely well worth it the food it's delicious! read more

George W.

129

9 years ago

The great service made my night that much more enjoyable for my friend and I. Superb place with a great vibe, give it a shot and you won't be disappointed. Like the great Wayne Gretzky once put it... "You miss percent of the shots you don't take". Thanks! read more

Howard B.

8 years ago

Great addition to the the neighborhood, prompt service, good food and easy nearby FREE parking around the corner near Whitney Young High school if you do mind a 2 block walk.... Wide ranging menu from daily $5 special to full on catering..... read more

Rashawn M.

8 years ago

Love the food. Parking was easy. Come to Chicago just to come here! Herolds has the best fish. I have to bring my friend each time I come or bring food back home for her. Worth the drive every time. Clean establishment as well. read more

Emma B.

9 years ago

Absolutely amazing service! The food was fresh and well prepared. They have a great variety of items you wouldn't see at Harold's. Shrimp is amazing, amongst other things. So are the gizzards, chicken, and fried green tomatoes. read more

TyVena S.

123

9 years ago

Every time i come to Chicago, i stop here. Their restaurant has the best member service and is so clean. I appreciate how the employees take their time with our food to make sure everything is properly done. I love this place. read more

Will D.

9 years ago

If you are a fan of Harold's Fried Chicken from all over the city, the West Loop location will not disappoint you! Fresh, great food is what you should seek when you looking in the direction of authentic Chicago food. read more

Harold's Chicken Shack West Loop - chickenshop - Updated September 2026

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The order was made fast and on time which I appreciated, but unfortunately the chicken was just ok…read more The fried chicken skin wasn't as crispy as other places make it and the lemon pepper seasoning made the chicken way too salty.

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We ordered 50 wings they were $78 total. They were delicious and made pretty quickly. The wings are…read morevery crunchy at this location. The staff was nice they followed directions and clarified our order. The ambiance is clean, they have an area where you can sit down and eat.

Fish was freshly fried and was nice and hot! The service was good, nice and friendly…read more We got the combo dinners which are filling. We wanted to sit and eat but it's really limited options to sit so we at it in the car. I would recommend getting a food tables, the space is there too! It is a clean spot too and we appreciate that.

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We had the chicken box food truck come to our school for the last day of school. Their food truck…read moreis questionable our cleanliness. All they have is chicken tenders with a variety of sauces. Buy chicken tenders came with a hot honey sauce. Their fries had lemon pepper seasoning on them along with some hot honey sauce. With my chicken box I only got a sprinkle of fries in there. The fries were the best part. The chicken turned were decent they were just really thick and big. They weren't your traditional easy to hold chicken tender. The chicken was fresh it tasted fine. The hot honey sauce was very spicy with a hint of sweetness. It was a decent meal. Their service was not the best granted they were serving an entire school body including staff so tensions were a bit high!

Fresh chicken seasoned well,hot right out the oil, sauces mild to hot of the hot fresh French…read morefries. Food truck was clean, the service was pleasant with a smile. Follow on instagram

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Purchase 10 piece chicken on mothers Day at the 47th street location near Lake Park around 11:15…read morethe chicken was burnt and old will not be purchasing nothing here anymore.

Their jumbo shrimp!!! It's only a few but their breaded good and no complaints of taste especially…read morewith a sprinkle of lemon pepper. The banana pudding tho! Best I've ever had... DONT skip that. Lady was nice who took my order, I called in for pickup. It's in a strip mall, plenty of parking And the eyebrow place next door did my eyebrows while I waited. Win win.

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Best Harold's in Chicago. Never had a complaint here. Always perfectly fried, sauce is on point!…read moreIt's auburn Gresham, so park mind your business, get your food and leave. This is an original Harold's with the red benches, fake brick walls, with the bulletproof glass. This will always be my favorite.

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Tried Chunky Boss in Chinatown for the first time, and overall it was a solid experience. I ordered…read morethe chicken cutlet, which was served hot with a nice, flavorful seasoning. The meat was juicy--not dry at all--which was a pleasant surprise.The service was a bit on the slow side, but the staff was friendly, and the wait wasn't too bad considering the small space. The sign says "famous chicken chop," but what I got was more of a cutlet--maybe I missed the chop option, or that's just what they call it. Not necessarily a spot I'd rush back to, but definitely worth a try if you're in the area and craving some crispy, well-seasoned chicken.

My kids and I have always wanted to try this place. We came in during a weekday afternoon and…read morefound it be semi-busy. It took a good 7 mins before I could get counter service because the woman at the register was both taking orders and putting them together. Not sure what the other staff member was doing, but sure wasn't trying to help. It took some time to get our order. The family combo came out fresh. The chicken and the fries were hot and crispy. While good, it's not something I would go out of my way for considering how slow the counter service was.

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